ROSE UP: Derrick Rose, driving past Baron Davis the last time the Bulls faced the Knicks, is expected to return to Chicago’s lineup today at the Garden after missing 12 games because of a groin injury. Photo: Getty Images

ROSE UP:Derrick Rose, driving past Baron Davis the last time the Bulls faced the Knicks, is expected to return to Chicago’s lineup today at the Garden after missing 12 games because of a groin injury. (GETTY)

So many times in the past, the Knicks tried, and failed, to defeat the Bulls in the playoffs. Now, the Knicks might need to beat their former rival just to get into the postseason.

Barely holding on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 11 games remaining in the regular season, the Knicks face what may be their most vital three-game stretch of the season, starting with a home-and-home set against the team with the NBA’s best record, today at Madison Square Garden and Tuesday at Chicago.

Wednesday, the Knicks play the ninth-place Bucks, who trail the Knicks by a half-game after a 116-94 win over the Blazers last night.

“We know we’ve got a tough road ahead of us, but we just got to take it game by game,” Tyson Chandler said after yesterday’s practice. “This is kind of what you want down the stretch. You want to play against tough teams to prepare you for the playoffs. I feel like it’s going to build character. We’ve played some tough teams the past couple games. We just got to find a way to win games down the stretch and especially we got to take care of home.”

Reigning MVP Derrick Rose is expected to return for the Bulls today after missing the previous 12 games with a groin injury. The Bulls have played surprisingly well without Rose this season, going 15-7. Rose averaged 32 points and 10 assists in two wins over the Knicks this season.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge,” Chandler said. “Chicago is one of the best teams in the league. They play well with or without Rose. They bring it every single night. With D-Rose, they’re even more deadly.”

If the playoffs started today, the Knicks would play the Bulls in the first round, which would be the first postseason meeting between the teams since 1996. Carmelo Anthony said he is approaching the next two games as if they are preparation for a future encounter.

“[Today’s game] is going to be approached like a playoff game,” Anthony said. “When we go out there and play them Tuesday, it’s going to be a playoff mentality. Right now, if we started today, that’s who we’d be matched up with, so we got to approach it like that. It’s a big game for us, and I’m pretty sure they’re thinking the same thing.

“We want this game and we want it bad.”

The Knicks’ two losses to the Bulls this season came during the Mike D’Antoni era. Since interim coach Mike Woodson took over, the Knicks are 10-3 and displaying energy so drastically improved that Anthony said he can’t even remember what it felt like to play under his former coach.

“That seems like it was forever, that was a long time ago,” Anthony said of playing for D’Antoni, who resigned on March 14. “I think guys’ mentality and focus level is just a little bit different than it was back then. Right now we’re in crunch time, and I think guys know the importance of how big these games are. That’s the biggest difference. Guys are just really locking in and focusing in right now.

“[Woodson’s] been great. The way he’s been able to get through to guys on the team — his communication with the guys on the team, holding everybody accountable, responsible out there on the court — has been great. For me and the other guys on the team, we’ve been responding well.”